Is taking Obsessive Compulsive Disorder/Scrupulousity medication sinful?

[coolcatholicguy]

Is it, should trust God alone to take scrupulousity away? I am checking to be sure.

 

[Prophesy]

Is it, should trust God alone to take scrupulousity away? I am checking to be sure.

No, your prescribed medication are for your health. God can work through the medical profession.

-Prophecy

 

[Barbkw]

Fr. Groeschel (a psychologist) answered this question one night on his EWTN show “Sunday Night Live.”

It is not sinful to take medicine for mental health purposes when it aids in your progress toward leading a more normal life.

He went on to talk about how a person can use medicine and behavioral therapy together to change thought and action. Eventually, over time, with progress there may be no need to remain on medication.

He also discussed that some medicine is addictive, which then again, requires consultation with a psychologist to determine which drugs should and should not be used.

I’d also suggest, for benefit of your progress, that you contact a Catholic psychologist (definately not a pagan, or an unbelieving practitioner).

 

[baltobetsy]

Medication or a combination of medication and talk therapy are the ordinary ways of dealing with the symptoms of OCD and the scrupulosity that may result from it. I’ll tell a favorite story to illustrate:

Floods threatened to overcome a man’s house. He stood on his front porch, watching the waters rising and praying that God would save him. A sheriff came along in a rowboat and offered to take the man to safety. "Oh, no thanks, " he said, “God is going to save me.” Later, the water had risen to the second floor of his house. He stood at the window and prayed that God would save him. A Coast Guard motorboat came by and offered the man a ride to safety. “Oh, no thank you,” he replied, “God will save me.” Soon after, the flood waters rose so high the man had to stand on his roof to pray. A National Guard helicopter dropped a line to him to pull him to safety. He waved them off, shouting, “It’s OK, God is going to save me.” Shortly thereafter, the man drowned. When he reached the pearly gates, he asked God why He did not save him. God said, “I sent you two boats and a helicopter - what more did you want??”

Most often, God chooses to use the ordinary means of answering our prayers. Finding a doctor who diagnoses OCD and prescribes treatment is one of those ordinary ways of receiving God’s help and an answer to one’s prayers for help.

Some insist that problems with scrupulosity are “spiritual” problems and that doctors could not possibly understand. The fact is, these problems often are mostly medical with a spiritual manifestation, and the doctor need not understand all the intricacies of one’s faith in order to help.

I can just imagine the devil standing by and laughing. The patient is all wrapped up in spiritual torment, feeling far away from God, as if he could not be saved, and the devil hasn’t had to lift a finger.

In the unlikely event that there is any sin associated with taking these medications, I would think it would be the sin of NOT taking them, rooted in stubbornness and pride. Using them is not a sign of lack of trust in God.

If you or someone you know has been prescribed such medications, I strongly advise giving them a try. Realize, however, that it often requires several attempts to get the medication just right, and that an early failure is NOT a sign that it was wrong to use the meds.

Betsy

 

[Garyjohn2]

Lol! I’m not laughing at you, I would never do that. It’s just that the question itself is kind of funny, in an ironic kind of way. Don’t you think?

 

[AFCatholic]

Well said Betsy.

I too struggle with this from time to time, I have OCD/scrupulosity and take medication. It doesn’t take it away (at least in my case) but it does help one lead a more normal life. Obviously the diagnosis comes from a psychiatrist, but yes if he prescribes something you should take it like you would for any other physical problem. OCD from what research shows is a chemical imbalance in the brain, there is a lot of evidence that the OCD is physiological.

God Bless you on your walk brother, I know it well!

Kevin

 

[In_Spiration]

Why do you think you suffer from an alleged “psychological disorder” called “Scrupulosity”? This diagnosis, at first glance, raises my suspicions that our culture, which is principally opposed to any suffering (primarily based on materialistic or hedonistic grounds), is yet again looking for a way to deny moral reality and responsibility. OCD is another story, sure, but what some may deem harmful Scrupulosity could arguably be a blessing, a much-needed call of the conscience.

Admittedly, I haven’t researched this topic very much; however, a problem would only exist if your suffering and guilt is caused by non-existent sin (i.e., just your imagination). I’d say that, if your suffering and guilt is at all connected to real sin, then it just may be a necessary motivation to repent and reform.

 

[bingbang]

Why do you think you suffer from an alleged “psychological disorder” called “Scrupulosity”? This diagnosis, at first glance, raises my suspicions that our culture, which is principally opposed to any suffering (primarily based on materialistic or hedonistic grounds), is yet again looking for a way to deny moral reality and responsibility. OCD is another story, sure, but what some may deem harmful Scrupulosity could arguably be a blessing, a much-needed call of the conscience.

Admittedly, I haven’t researched this topic very much; however, a problem would only exist if your suffering and guilt is caused by non-existent sin (i.e., just your imagination). I’d say that, if your suffering and guilt is at all connected to real sin, then it just may be a necessary motivation to repent and reform.

I disagree with this completely and think this type of thinking perpetuates unneeded guilt. The problem is that we all sin. None of us are perfect. If I do something bad, I feel bad about it for a bit, try to make it right, and then go on with my life. If someone does something bad and dwells on it for days or even weeks or months then it is not normal. It doesn’t help them in any way and just makes them feel horrible all the time.

The birds and the lilies don’t worry, so why should Christians?

 

[In_Spiration]

I disagree with this completely and think this type of thinking perpetuates unneeded guilt.

Didn’t you notice that all I really did was declare and explain my overarching suspicion, without making any definite accusations about coolcatholicguy?

The problem is that we all sin. None of us are perfect. If I do something bad, I feel bad about it for a bit, try to make it right, and then go on with my life.

No one ought to be satisfied with (in this case, meaning “be unbothered by”) any sin, no matter how slight. Therefore, as long as one remains in a state of sin, one ought to suffer for it to some degree and not be satisfied until he is cleansed of it. If catholiccoolguy has not rid himself of a sin, then he certainly should not just “go on with [his] life;” he should listen to his conscience, for it’s gnawing at him for a good reason (rather unpleasantly, but then that’s the point – pain tends to get our attention).

If the pains of his conscience, the suffering from the knowledge of his sinfulness, is too great, then I suggest the solution is through prayer and sacrament and virtue, not to deny the effect of sin by comfortably accepting it.

If someone does something bad and dwells on it for days or even weeks or months then it is not normal. It doesn’t help them in any way and just makes them feel horrible all the time.

Of course if the suffering and guilt one feels is not appropriate with respect to the sin (i.e., is disproportionate) then it’s a problem. I’m objecting to the notion that “feeling bad” is a worse state than living in sin. If one must choose between a miserable life spent gradually tackling sin, and a life settling with any sin, say, to permit more comfort, or “normalcy,” or practical success, then the choice should be obvious. The conquering of sin is a lifelong project; satisfaction and comfort hopefully will be mercifully awarded after your death.

One could argue that the guilt from sin will be counter-productive. Perhaps, but then the proper response would be to resolve your irrational reaction to guilt and suffering by learning to draw strength and motivation from it instead of falling into despair. (Suffering is a divine gift of discipline to the soul; embrace it, like Jesus did the Cross, and conquer its far more dangerous root.)

 

[TheQuestioner]

No one ought to be satisfied with (in this case, meaning “be unbothered by”) any sin, no matter how slight. Therefore, as long as one remains in a state of sin, one ought to suffer for it to some degree and not be satisfied until he is cleansed of it. If catholiccoolguy has not rid himself of a sin, then he certainly should not just “go on with [his] life;” he should listen to his conscience, for it’s gnawing at him for a good reason (rather unpleasantly, but then that’s the point – pain tends to get our attention).

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! This is completely wrong. The Church does not teach this but teaches more toward what bigbang said. If you sin you recognize it, feel initial suffering because of it, pray for forgiveness, thank God it wasn’t worse, try to make amends if they can and go to confession, and move on, carrying on in their prayer life normally until they can get to confession. The point is to not lose your peace. When you lose your peace the devil can easily assault you. What you are suggesting is that a person should not regain their peace until confession, on purpose, which is bad. This is not the same as accepting mediocrity, but it is recognizing that it is from God that all faith, hope, love and virtue come. You can only do evil on your own, so you must fully rely on Him.

One could argue that the guilt from sin will be counter-productive. Perhaps, but then the proper response would be to resolve your irrational reaction to guilt and suffering by learning to draw strength and motivation from it instead of falling into despair. (Suffering is a divine gift of discipline to the soul; embrace it, like Jesus did the Cross, and conquer its far more dangerous root.)

I doubt that suffering is the same as the incessant guilt caused by a loss of peace.

 

[Newbie2]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! This is completely wrong. The Church does not teach this but teaches more toward what bigbang said. If you sin you recognize it, feel initial suffering because of it, pray for forgiveness, thank God it wasn’t worse, try to make amends if they can and go to confession, and move on, carrying on in their prayer life normally until they can get to confession. The point is to not lose your peace. When you lose your peace the devil can easily assault you. What you are suggesting is that a person should not regain their peace until confession, on purpose, which is bad. This is not the same as accepting mediocrity, but it is recognizing that it is from God that all faith, hope, love and virtue come. You can only do evil on your own, so you must fully rely on Him.

I doubt that suffering is the same as the incessant guilt caused by a loss of peace.

Dittos.

That’s not to say that one should go about one’s business with no thought or care in the world about one’s sin…but nobody is saying that in this thread.

 

[puzzleannie]

Lol! I’m not laughing at you, I would never do that. It’s just that the question itself is kind of funny, in an ironic kind of way. Don’t you think?

we can’t give medical advice on this forum, against the rules. no it is not a sin to follow the directives of the doctors who are treating you for a condition. God gave them their skill to use for our benefit.

 

[Garyjohn2]

we can’t give medical advice on this forum, against the rules. no it is not a sin to follow the directives of the doctors who are treating you for a condition. God gave them their skill to use for our benefit.

Oh, I was referring to the title of the post.